Pattern mechanism for knitting machines



Oct. 36,1928? 1,689,592

v. LOMBARDI PATTERN MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Original Filed Sept- 7, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTT RNEY Ocf. '30, 1928. 1,689,592

v. LOMBARDI PATTERN MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Original Filed Sept. 17, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR VUJLMZ" W BY ATT NEY Oct. 30, 1928.

V. LOMBARDI PATTERN MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Original Filed Sept. 17, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR AT ORNEY Patented Oct. 30, 1928. V

UNITED STATES 1,689,592 PATENT OFFICE.

VINCENT LOMIBABDI, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

PATTERN MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

Original application filed September 17, 1925,-Seria1'No. 56,895. Divided and this application filed June 2, 1927. Serial No. 195,967.

This invention relates to an improved pattern mechanism for knitting machines and has for an object to provide a attern control for a knitting machine where y the needles ofthe machine may in any desired manner.

This application constitutes a division of my prior application Serial Number 56,895 filed Sept. 17 1925, on knitting machines.

The specific embodiment of this invention hereinafter described in detail is particularly adapted to furnish the pattern control to enable the needles to knit from a plurality ofindependent yarns a fabric of the interlocked 15 type, described for example in my United States Patent No. 1,541 ,230 of June 9, 1925, wherein it is essential to have the needles selectively partially or fully advanced during ,the .knitting operation. The pattern may have a variable characteristic which enables the needles, when a yarn carrier is passing, to be maintained retracted, or to be partially advanced or to be fully advanced as may be desired. For example the pattern may comprise an endless strip of paper having perforations of two different sizes. Plungers cooperating with the pattern may therefore encounter a small perforation, a large perforation or no perforation when operated towards the pattern strip and these three characteristics of the paper pattern may be made to perform three different functions on the needles as will be hereinafter described.

,More particularly, this invention relates to improvements in the drum on which. the paper pattern is mounted as well as improvements in the auxiliary apparatus cooperating with the drum and pattern.

For a fuller understand'ng of the nature and objects of the invent-ion reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in. connection with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 represents a general plan view of, the machine of this invention; 2 is a sectional view of the machine illustrating the automatic control of the knitting operations of a representative needle;-

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the certain cams attached to a mt-ating cylinder; Fig. 4 illustrates the )attern drum mechanism for the machine; ig. 5 is an end view in section of one of the pattern drums; and Fig. 6 is a somewhat diagrammatic showing of the cylinder needles in their various operating-posibe selectively operated toothed ring 13.

tionswith their associated control apparatus arranged to produce a certain type of fabric.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1, the knitting machine disclosed is of the circular type employing cylinder needles and in the specific type taken for illustration two yarn carriers 1 and 2 are provided. It will be assumed for convenience that the yarn from carrier 1 is blue and the yarn from carrier 2-is white so as to give a two color fabric the design of which may be varied. The cylinder needles are controlled automatically in the knitting by paper patterns lorated on four rotatable drums 3, 4, 5 and 6, each drum'being adapted by mechanism hereinafter. described to control the cylinder needles in'the adjacent quadrant of the machine, so that the four drums provide for the automatic control of all of the cylinder needles in the entire circumference of the machine.

Power for driving the machine may be obtained from a motor 7 which drives a'shaft 8, shaft 8 by suitable gears is coupled to shafts 9 and 10 so that these latter shafts are driven in a clockwise direction. Shaft 10 is geared at its end to rotate a shaft 12 which as will be described later controls the pattern drum 3. Similarly, shaft 9 is geared to a shaft which drives pattern drum 5. Attached to the end of the main shaft '8 is a gear which meshes with a toothed ring 13 to which are fastened the various parts of the machine which are to be rotated. On the opposite side of the machine from shaft 8 is a shaft 14 driven by gear means from the Shaft 14 in turn drives two shafts 15 and 16 which in turn drive controlling shafts for the pattern drums 4 and 6, respectively.

The ring 13 is attached at the points 17 and 18 with the cam ring 19, which supports the cams for raising and lowering the needles. as hereinafter described. The cam ring 20 for moving the customary sinkers in andout is connected by members 22 and 23 to the cylinder cam ring 19. The other parts of the machine appearing in Fig. 1 will be explained in detail in connection with Fig. 2 which gives a vertical sectional view taken at the point indicated in Fig. 1. v

The slotted cylinder 24 for holding the cylinder needles is shown at the extreme left of Fig. 2. One of the latched cylinder needles 25 is shown in a vertical slot in cylinder 24,

the cylinder needles being held-in their respective slots by wires 26, 27. Above the needle cylinder 24 lie the usual sinkers 28 and the rotating sinker cam 20. The yarn carrier 1 is supported from the sinker cam 20 in the usual manner. The rotating sinker cam 20 slides in a groove in the stationary member 30 which is suitably mounted on a stationary cylinder 32, Which in turn rests on the base plate 33.

The toothed or ring gear 13 rotates in a groove in plate 33 while the needle cam cylinder 19 also rotates in a groove in the same plate. The gear ring 13 and the needle cam cylinder are connected by member 17, as shown also in Fig. 1. A post 34 rising from the rotatable cylinder 19 serves to support the member 22 which is fastened to the sinker cam 20. Arising from and integral with the annular plate 35 which connects the needle cylinder 24 with the base plate 33 is an up right piece 36 which in addition to having a groove 37 in the top thereof running around the machine also has a deep radial slot 38 opposite each cylinder needle. ,Lying in the circumferential groove 37 is a wire 39 and lying on top of wire39. in each radial slot is a needle lever 40. Each lever 40 is pivoted on the wire 39 due to a deep groove 42 on its underside into which the wire fits snugly. The radial slot in member 36 into which the lever 40 fits should be designed to prevent an appreciable side play of lever 40 while still permitting the lever to rotate on its pivot. One end of lever 40 ends in two jaws which fit around the needle butt so that the movement of lever 40 will cause a rise or fall in its associated needle. In the othendirection lever 40 ends between two jaws of an upright operating member 43 for the lever. The upper end of member 43 fits into a slot 44 in the stationary member 30, while the lower end of member 43 fits into a slot 45 in the base plate 33. Slot 44 allows an upward and downward movement of member- 43 but permits no side play in either transverse direction. Slot 45, however, allows considerable lateral movement of the lower end of member 43 in a direction parallel to'the plane of the drawing but permits no lateral movement in a direction at right angles to the plane of the drawing. Slot 45 also permits an upward and downward movement of member 43. It should also be noted that the stationary cylinder 32 is slotted to receive the end of lever 40.

In Fig. 2 the lever operating member 43 is in its uppermost position to which it has been raised by the passage of a cam 46 which contacted with'the lower side of projection 48 to fully raise member 43 to the position shown in Fig. 2. Projection 48 is of such a size that cam 46 will in each passage contact with the lower side thereof to raise member 43 to its uppermost position provided the lower end of member 43 has been moved to its extreme right position. If member 43 is moved only partially to the right another cam lower side of projection 48 and since cam 41 is smaller than cam 46, this will produce only a partial raising of the lever operating member43.

Near the lower end of cylinder 19 are mounted two additional cams 49 and .50. These additional cams are such that depending on the lateral position of member 43, the member 43 will at times be lowered by cam 49 and at other times will be lowered by the passage of cam 50 due to contacting I with the upper side of projection 48; and at still other times will not be lowered by the passage of either cam 49 or 50. Due to their relative sizes cam 50 will lower member 43 only a small distance and cam 49 will lower it a greater distance for reasons which will appear hereinafter. The relations of cams 41, 46, 49 and 50 are such that any needles raised by cam 49 will be lowered by cam 46 and any needles raised by cam 50 will be lowered by cam 41.

I Slot 45 which passes entirely through the base plate 33 also holds a horizontally, operating member 52 which is U-shaped in one portion 53 thereof to form a pocket for the lower end of member 43 so as to be a guide therefor whenever member '52 is moved horizontally. One end of member 52 is fitted to receive the end of a spring 54 which at its other end fits into a groove in the side of 41 will contact with the base plate 33. The action of spring 54 is such as to tend to pull member 52 in the direction of the center of the machine. The other end of member 52 isfastened to the end of a flexible wire 55 which is used to control the position of member 52 determined by pattern mechanism hereinafter described. Wire 55 throughout the greater portion of its length is surrounded by a rigid tubing 56 which may be of metal if desired. Tubing 56 prevents any side play'or lost motion in wire 55 while still permitting wire 55 to move longitudinally thereof. vTubing 56 is imbedded in some suitable compound 57 for maintaining tube 56 in its desired position.

The arran ement by means of which wire 55 is controlled by a paper pattern will now be described. Fig. 2 at the right shows an end view of thepattern drum 3, Pivoted about a shaft 58 is an angle member having two arms 59 and 60; Pivoted also about shaft 58 is an arm 62 to the lower end of which is attached the end of wire "55. Arm 60 is normally held away from arm 62' a desired distance by means of an adjustable screw 63. The free end of arm 59 is provided with a threaded plunger 64 the lower end of which continues as a pin 65 of much I samller diameter than the main body thereof.

with the pattern paper-"ion drum 3 due to the pull of spring 54 through wire 55. If there happens to be a small hole in the paper underneath plunger 64 the pin 65 will enter the hole until the main body of the plunger rests on the paper. If there is a large hole in the paper the main body of the plunger 64 will also project therethrough a distancedetermined by the stop 66 on wire 55 when it comes in contact with shoulder 67.

Referring to both Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that with reference to drum 3 there are "also pivoted '68 joined by} I 68-contain a slot 70 which surrounds the roabout shaft 58 two spaced cams a rod 69. Each of these cams tating shaft 12. Mounted on a rotatable shaft 12 and located within the slot 70 is an eccentrio 7 2 which by the rotation of shaft 12 gives an oscillating movement to cam 68 about shaft 58. In Fig. 2 the cam 68 is shown in its maximum counter-clockwise position and in this position cam 68 by means of rod 69 moving against arms 60 causes all the plungers 64 to be raised. away from the paper pattern. At such a time another arm 73 on shaft 12 contacts with one of the pins 7 4 on the end of the pattern drum 3 thereby causing the pattern drum to be moved to the next row of holes in the pattern. A suitable spring 7 5 contacting with one of the pins 74 insures that the drum 3 when moved by arm 73 will come to rest in such a position as to align the 64 with the next row of holes in the plungers Whenever it is desired to lift the pattern.

' plungers 64 manually as when it is necessary to change the paper pattern for example, handler 7 6 may be moved in a counter-clockwise direction for this purpose. Pivotally mounted on shaft 58 and under the control of'handle 76 are. two members 77 which support a metallic strip 78 running parallel to the drum underneath the plunger arms 59. The movement of handle 76 in acounterclockwise direction causes the plunger arms.

59 to be lifted to free the paper pattern of all the plungers. Strip 78 has an upright projection 79 between each pair of the plunger arms 59 so as to serve as guides therefor. The pattern drum 3 and its associated cams and shafts may be located in a suitable housing 80 having a suitable cover 82. Housing 80 is suitably supported by a base 83 constituting a part of the supporting framework of the machine.

It will be understood, of course, that there are elements 40, 43, 53, 54, 55, 56, 62, 60, 59, 64 and 65 for each cylinder needle whereby each cylinder needle may be moved automatically in accordance with its associated pattern on the pattern drum. The drum 3 takes care of the needles in one quadrant drum 4 in a second uadrant, drum 5 in a third quadrant and rum 6 in the remaining quadrant, o

' the machine. If the plunger 64 in its down- "will be responsive the pins 93 pattern the associated member 43 willbe in such a position as to respond to the cylinder cam 49 and cause its needle to be raised to its maximum height whereby it enters into the knitting. If there is a small hole in the paper so that only pin 65 enters, member 43 to the cylinder cam 50 and the associated needle will be moved to an intermediate position. If there is a large hole in the paper pattern member-43 will notbe responsive to either cam 49' or cam 50.

Fig. 3-is self-explanatory and shows how the cams 49 and 50' are attached to the cam.

cylinder 19. v

Fig. 4 illustrates the mechanical construction of the two pattern drums 3 and 4. .Drums 5 and 6 are, of course similar. Drum 3 is shown with the paper pattern partly removed while drum 4 has a paper pattern 84 thereon. The shaft, 85 for drum 3 is suitably pivoted at the points 86 and 87 to allow" its free rotation when actuated by the bar 73. Member 86 has a suitable support 88 and member 87 has a support 89 through which it passes. Member 87-, is held in place by a pivoted clamping arm 90 which is held against member 88 by a thumb screw 92. Clamping arm 90 being released allows member 87 to be pulled away from drum3 to allow the drum to be removed from the machine whenever it is desired. The paper pattern is held in position on the drum by pins 93 which project through correspondingly spaced holes near the edges of the pattern. Each in 93 is adapted to be moved inwardly in its slot a suflicient distance so that the'top of the pin is below the surface of-the drum to facilitate the removal of the paper pattern. This is accomplished by having each pin 93 on one edge'o f the drum provided by a side pin 94 which works in an angular slot in a knurled ring 95. This is shown more in detail in Fig. 5 from which it will be apparent that when project above the surface of the drum the side pins are near the outer ends of the slots while the movement of ring 95 in a counter-clockwise direction from the' position shown in Fig. 5 will cause the side pins to move along towards the inner ends of the slots thereby retracting the pins 93. A similar knurled ring 95 is located at each end of the drums 3-to 6. The above description of drum 3,also applies equally well to the structure of the other three drums.

The'machine of this invention, is adapted to knit fabrics of widely different types since individual and automatic control is provided for each needle. While it is capable of knittingxthe ordinary Jersey cloth it is also particularly adapted to knit the type of multicolor fabric described and claimed in my U. S. Patent No. 1,426,57 60f August 22, 1922.

f The fabric disclosed therein is of the multicolor type in which the loops in one section are of one color while the loops in an adjacent loo sectionare of a second color. The yarn which does not enter into the knitting in any particular section is carried behind the main loops, being interlockedwith the loops in 550 and 96 are adapted to cause the operation of the needles for the passage of yarn carrier 1. while correspondmg cams 91, 97, 98, 99 and 100 are adapted to cause the operation of the needles for the passage of yarn carill rier 2." The cams-and the yarn carriers are traveling of course from left'to right. a

For illustrative purposes the paper patterns on the drums 3 to 6 of Fig. 6 are de signed to give in the front of the fabric loops 0 yarn 1 in one section controlled by drum 3 and loops of yarn 2 in another section of the cloth controlled by drums 4, 6 and 5 so as to give a striped effect. In that section containing loops of yarn 1, yarn 2 is interlocked in alternate wales in the rear of the fabric as explainedmore in detail in my above mentioned patent. In Fig.6 drums 3 and 6 have just been moved up one step since nocams are acting at this time on the needles controlled by drums 3 and 6. The mechanism described in Fig/2 has not yet caused the plungers to contact with the paper patterns of drums 3 and 6.

It furthermore will'be assumed that in the showing of Fig. 6 the needles opposite drum 3 are holding loops of yarn 1; that the loopsaround the needles of drum 5 are'of yarn '2 that the needles of drums5 and 6 each have aloop of yarn 2; alternate needles also having caught yarn 1; and that the-loops around the needles below the latches for drum 4 in position 104 are of yarn 2 with yarn 1 in a zi zag path in front of alternate needles and behind the remaining needles, while in position 105 the needles contain loops of yarn 2.

The plungers for drum 3 (only a few shown) will all find no holes in the paper pattern so that all of the'ncedlescontrolled by drum 3 will be lifted to'the full knitting position when cam 49 contacts with control members 43. This will cause the loops on the needles of drum 3 to fall below the open ends of the latches and' the needles will then catch yarn 1, after which cam 46 will lower the needles of drum3 causing them to cast their former loops and form new loops of yarn 1. Cam 96 will then raise the needles of drum .3 slightly as is customary to release the tension on the yarn somewhat. Before the cams 97 to 100 are ready to pass the control members 43 of drum 3, the drum 3 will have moved another step to present a different pattern which may, for example, be such that all the way in will not be raised due to either cam 49 or 50 due to the fact that their control -members 43 are in such aposition as not to be affected by cams 49 or 50. However the control members 43 that are associated with the plungers which go only half wayin will be lowered by cam 50. As shown in Fig. 6 alternate needles opposite drum 5 are raised thereby to such a position that their latches are opened but the old loops do not fall below the open ends of the latches. See for example, the needle in position 102. The needles however, are in such a position as to catch yarn 1-, as shown in osition 103. The alternate needles that eatc lowered to substantially the level of the top of the needle cylinder by cam 41, the needles retaining bot-h their old loops and the yarn 1. The needles which were not partially raised are then raised slightly by cam 96 as previously described. Those needles of drum 5 which have caught-yarn 1 also contain loops of yarn 2 previously formed, while the remaining needles contain only loops of yarn 2.

I Attention is called to the fact that after alternate needles have caught the yarn'to be interlocked as in position 103, cam 41 or 91 brings the needles down only to approxinmtely the top of the needle cylinder as in position 101, while when ordinary loops are being formed cam 46 or 99 brings the needles appreciably lower (see osition 111') after which they are subsequent y raised slightly by cam 96 to a position. the equivalent of position to which the needles are lowered by cam 41 or 91. The feature of having the alternate needles for interlocking purposes lowered to a lesser degree than for ordlnary knitting is of considerable advantage when it is desired to have the interlocked yarn drawn fairly tight. Y I

Onl a few needles for drum 6 are shown. The plungers are raised from the paper pattern as the drum has just been moved to present a fresh portion of the pattern and the previous row of perforations had been such tain yarn 1 as well as loops of yarn 2 while the remaining needles contain only loops of yarn 2. The new portion of the pattern for yarn 1 are then one type of needle.

drum 6 hasno holes in it so that all the needles of drum 6 will knit loops of yarn 2 when it passes due to the action of cams 98, 99 and 100.

' The paper pattern for drum 4 shows no holes for the plungers so that due to action of cams 98, 99 and 100 they are knitting loops of yarn 2. A detail of the interlocking feature is shown, for example imposition 104 and adjacent thereto. The needles have been fully raised due to cam '98 so that the-01d loops of yarn 2 have fallen below the open latches. Yarn 1 is also below the open latches being in front of .alternate needles and behind the remaining needles. It is with yarn 1 in this position that yarn 2 is hooked again and pulled through the old loops as shown adjacent position 105. After the new loops have been formed cam'100 raises the needles slightly as previously described;

It has thus been shown how the needles of drums 5, 6, and 4 knit loops of yarn 2, the needles of drum 3 knit loops of yarn 1, while each yarn is interlocked in alternate wales of the loops of the other yarn. It is of course understood that the character of the fabric may be varied from time to time by varia tions in the nature of the pattern paper. The same general operation may also be applied to any desired number of yarns, two yarns being merely representative. k

The machine of this invention is not limited to the knitting of an interlocked fabric since it is of general application being capable of ordinary knitting, such as Jersey cloth. It is evident that this invention provides for the individual control of all the cylinder needles so that a complicated design may be formed in the knitted fabric. This is accomplished even with interlocked cloth with only That is all the cylinder needles may and should be exactly alike, thereby; rendering unnecessary the use of needles of several types as heretofore have been used. The needles are shown to be of the latched type although this invention may be used with other types of needles such as spring needles. 7

As shown in Fig. Git is desirable to have the pattern drums stepped around to a new position at the time when their needles are not occupied in the knitting. Thus, as shown in Fig. 6, as drums 4 and "5 are knitting, drums 3 and 6 should he stepped around; and similarly while drums 3 and 6 are knitting drums 4 and 5 should he stepped around to a new portion of the fabric. As shown in Fig. 1, this means that alternate drums will be moved while the other two are knitting. The time for the stepping around of one of the drums is controlled as shown in Fig. 2 by the relative position of cam 7 3 on shaft 12. This cam 73 can be so positioned as to cause the associated drum to step around at the time the needles associated with the drum arenot engaged in the actual knitting. The same general procedure may also be followed with a greater number of drums or a greater number of yarns or both.

It is "to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the inventionherein of the, scope of described, and all statements the invention,'which as a matter of language might be said to fall therebetween.

What is claimed is: i

1. Aknitting macl 'ne comprising a perforated cylinder for holding a perforated pattern comprising near each end of the cylinder pins projecting through perforations in the pattern for holding the pattern'on said cylinder and means for retracting said pins when it is desired to remove said pattern.

2. -A knitting machine comprising a. perforated cylinder for holding a perforated pattern comprising a plurality of radially extending pins at each end of said cylinder and passingthrough perforations in the pat- ,tern and a control member for the pins at each end of said cylinder, said control member in one position causing said pins to be retracted sufliciently to withdraw the pins from the pattern perforations and in a second position causing said pins to project through the perforations.

3. A knitting machine comprising a rotatable cylinder, a paper pattern mounted on said cylinder, a plurality of pins mounted near each end of said cylinder and passing through perforations in said pattern for bold ing said pattern on said cylinder, and means for simultaneously retracting the pins at each end of said cylinder when it is desired to remove said attern.

In witness w ereof, I hereunto subscribe my name thi s 7th day of ApriL'A. D. 1927.

VINCENT LOMBARDI. 

